Palabora Mining Company to stop all conveyor belts after tragic accident

Billy Sibuyi

PMC's underground operations. Image: PMC website

The Department of Mineral Resources issued a notice of orders, suspension and instructions to PMC following the incident that claimed the lives of six miners.

The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has issued a notice of orders, suspension and instructions ito the Palabora Mining Company (PMC) following an incident that claimed six miners lives after a conveyer belt caught fire last Sunday, Letaba Herald reports.

According to the notice issued, in terms section 54 (1)(A) and 54 (1)(B) of the Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act 29 of 1996), certain irregularities were observed:

The refuge bay where three employees were found deceased was found not to be life sustainable in terms of air supply.

Life sustaining services installed to the bay were not made of fire-proof material or fire protected.

The conveyer belt can operate even if the suppression system is faulty.

PMC has also been instructed to withdraw all affected people, other than those who are required to assist in taking steps to fixing the place of safety and conduct a proper risk assessment on refuge bay design, location and standards in terms of regulation 16.6.

PMC is also instructed to immediately relieve the 2.13.3.1 mechanical engineer appointed for conveyer belt C5, and 2.13.1 chief engineer from making health and safety decisions.

Furthermore, these two officials must prepare separate presentations to the principal inspector of mines stating reasons why their certificates of competency should not be suspended.

PMC is also instructed to stop all conveyer belts at the mine and fix deviations on Regulation 5.1 report completed during the 2018 report first quarter.

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